The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1887-01-21
Governor Rusk on Strikes,

The prominence gained by Cover
nor Rusk, of Wisconsin, IN the labor
troubles of last May lends additional
weight to his comments on the strikes
made in his message to the Legislature.
Some of the most exciting scenes of
that turbulent period were enacted in
Milwaukee. The city has large
foreign population, many of whom are
Poles aid advocates of the most ex-
treme Sociaistic doctrines. The strike
for an eigbt-hour day gave them the
opportunity for which they had long
been preparing. Riots and violent acts
were at once begun, and had it not
been for the timely and energ, tic
measures taken by the author ties to
suppress them, many lives aud much
property would have been sacrificed.
The course of Governor Rusk at this
crisis was much criticised by the sup
porters of the strike.
Sufficient time has now elapsed to
permit all feeling to subside and to ell
able all participants to take dispas
sionate survey of the events of last
Spring, and the result of Governo
Rurk's observations and reflections
will be welcomed as a valuable contri.
button towards clearing up the contro-
versy between capital aud labor. H.
states one fact too little considered in
the discussion, which Is that while
only a small minority of thu working
men of the country have taken part in
the labor disturbances the g,,at ma
jority, though not in sympathy with
these troubles, have been compelled to
suffer through the interruption of their
peace and the violation of their rights.
All intelligent and unpreju iiced work
ingmen will agree with Governor Ru,k
in the conclusion that this is III ust
and that the peaceful maj rity have a
right to say, through the lawfully con,
stituted authorities, tn the factions mi
nority that there must be pcao". TIL
| great, independent, self relia t majority
of workingmen he describes as sine
bone and sinew, the pide and glory of
good citizenship and declares it to b'
ridiculous that their interests shalt BE-
jeopardiz-d by the restless contentious
of small minority.
That the labor agiiatlors of last year
were in large gree fruitless will be-
conceded by intelligent wnrkingmen.
This result was due mainly to the fact
that in most cases the movements were
begun and directed by demagogues,
whose only hope of gain was in the
continuance of state of strife. Per
haps it was necessary tor labor to pas
through this discipline IN order lha,
incompetent and uudrservng leader.
might be we, ded out, aud if so it is tn
be hoped that the lesson has been well
learned. Aud 1t will be well if the
events of the past twelve months have
made clear u and impr .ssrd upon tn,
workingmen the tact sta;ed by Cover
nor RuSk, that the great mass at the
laboring men. though not concerned ia
the strikes aud the lawless acts BY
which they were supported, We're YET
compelled to share in the disasterou,
consequences. Seeing the inevitable
results of the course followed last year
the sensible and law-ablding working
men, who form the great maj rity OF
the laboriny class in this country
should determine to free themselve,
from thu inhuencr OF those whose ruI,
has brought no,h ng but disaster anC
suffering. Only by taking this stel
can they hope to recover the grounc
lost and give the labor movement
new impulse in the right direction.
II.